Footwear-vulcanizer



w. H. FOSTER.

FOOTWEAR VULCANIZER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1919- Pasented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

WQZeJi, ['asfer W. H. FOSTER.

FOOTWEAR VULCANlZER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. M

//} I V gwuwtoz g Wacig jliaszer UNITED STATES WADE H. FOSTER, 0]?

BAD AXE, MICHIGAN.

FOOTWEAB-VULCANIZER.

Application filed May 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WADE H. Fos'rnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bad Axe, in the county of Huron and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Footwear-Vulcanizers, of which th following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to vulcanizers and refers particularly to vulcanizers for curing the treads of foot wear. One object of the invention is to provide a construction which is adapted to cure treads of different shapes and sizes and, further, to provide means for engaging both the bottoms and sides of the treads and adapted for the passage of a hot fluid. Another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable member adapted to firmly engage the sides of the treads being cured and to conduct heat thereto; and fur ther, in making this adjustable member hollow for the passage of a hot fluid. Other objects of the invention reside in the novel arrangements and combinations of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: r

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the vulcanizer embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section there through;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section therethrough;

Fig 4: is a longitudinal section through a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is an end view;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 7-7 of Fi 4.

l 'is the work support of hollow form and having the inlet opening 2 near one end of its bottom wall 3 and the outlet opening 4 at the opposite end, the bottom Wall 3 being downwardly-inclined from the outlet opening to the inlet opening to. permit drainage of any moisture collecting in the work support. 5 is a pipe connecting into the inlet opening 2, and 6 is a suitable valve for controlling the passage of the hot fluid through the pipe from its source (not shown). The

top of the upper wall 7 ofthe work sup ort is preferably corrugated and is curve to correspond approximately to the curve of the sole of the foot wear. 8 are upwardly extending flanges extending around three sides of the upper wall 7, and 9 is a yoke extending substantially centrally transversely of Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 294,755.

the upper wall and secured to the work support as by belng cast integral therewith. 10 1s an ad ustment screw threadedly engaging the yoke and adapted to force the foot-Wear into firm engagement with the top of the upper wall 7.

For the purpose of curing the edges of the treads, there is provided the U-shaped flexi ble, pllable, bendable member 11 having its lnner side preferably concave, this member belng adapted to rest upon the upper wall 7 of the work support inside the flanges 8 and to adjustably engage th edges of the treads. Suitable means, such as the adjustment screws 12, are provided threadedly engaging the flanges 8 and extending therethrough to adjust the member 11 into firm engagement with the edges of the treads, rotatablymounted members 12 being provided at the inner ends of the adjustment screws and adapted to engage the flexible member. This member will conduct heat from the upper wall 7 of the work support to the edges of the tread to cure the same but when used-in this manner, the eflectin of the cure takes considerable time. To e ect the cure in less time, the flexible member is formed hollow for the passage of a hot fluid conducted thereto by the pipe connection 13 extending between the outlet opening 4 of the work support and one end of the flexible hollow member 11. This ipe connection is controlled by a suitable va ve 14. The other end of the flexible hollow member 11 is connected into by a suitable pipe connection 15, through WlllCll the moisture drains, the

upper wall 7 of the work support being downwardly inclined toward its rear end for this purpose.

16 is the foot wear inside which is p ositioned the last 17 having lower flanges 18 conforming to the shape of the sole of the foot-wear and having the upper flanges 19 located beneath and substantially conforming to the upper part of the foot wear. 20 is a pressure plate resting upon the upper part of the foot wear and adapted to be en gaged by the adjustmentscrew 10 in the yoke for clamping the foot-wear in place. For the purpose of preventing the flowing .of the material in thesole of the foot wear while being cured, the beveled key 21 is provided, which is adapted to engage the transversely-extending groove 22 in the rear end of the upper wall 7 of the work support, this ke; being of a le gth to fit between the legs of the flexible hollow member 11. With this arrangement it is seen thatthe sole of the foot-wear being cured is completely surrounded on all its sides by the flexible hollow member 11 and key 21, and it lies be by suitable means, such as the bolts 27. 28

are parallel members secured to the arms 25 and 26 and suitably spaced from each other as by the spacer blocks 29. These parallel members extend longitudinally of the work support 23 and are slidably engaged by suitable work clamping members for curing the work to the work support. As shown, 30 is a member slidably mounted upon the parallel members 28 and having the internal threads 31. 32 is a bushing having the externalthreads 33 adapted for rotative engagement with the threads 31. This bushing is provided with internal interrupted threads 34 having the diametrically opposite spaces 35 between their ends. 36 is a stem provided with interrupted threads 37 adapted to slide longitudinally through the spaces 35 and to engage and lock with g the threads 34 upon the bushing when the stem is rotated with respect to the bushing. By means of this construction, the work clamping means may be readily moved longitudinally of the work support and the work engaging stem may be longitudinally slid into engagement with the work and .then rotated with respect to the bushing when the interrupted threads will engage with each other and lock. Upon .further turning ofthe stem, the bushing rotates withln the member slidably engaging the slot, thereby tightening the stem against the work to clamp the workagainst the work support. g

For the purpose of providing a better heat conducting contact between the pliable member 38 and the upper. wall'of the work support 23, the outer side wall-of the pliable member 38 is inclined upwardly and inwardly and the swivel heads 39 upon the adjustment screws 40 are wedge-shaped so that upon forcing the adjustment screws inwardly against the pliable members 38, they will have a wedge action upon the members '38 and force the latter into good heat conducting contact with the upper wall of the work support. a

. passes.

For the purpose of preventing the escape of the material while it is being cured, the

stop 41 is provided at the end of the work support 23. This stop slidably engages the end and is held in place by means of the strips 42 secured to the work support. In

'with a'vertically-extending slot 45 which is engaged in by the pin 46. upon the work support.

If desired, sand may be placed in the foot wear or article to be cured instead of theusual inner last. The stem 36 of the work clamping member will then engage a plate upon the sand for retaining the sand in lace.

Although I have shown only vulcanizers for the soles of foot-wear, it is to be understood that the same arrangement shaped'for vulcanizing heels 'of foot-wear can be used.

The term tread as used in this application is intended to refer to that part of the foot w'ear' engaging the ground and includes the sole and heel of the foot-wear.

From the above description it will be readily seen that I have provided a simple construction of Vulcanizer which is adapted to vulcanize different sizes and shapes of treads of foot wear, due to the fact that the member engaging the sides or edges of the treads is adjustable, so that it will be in firm engagement with these edges. Furthermore,

the construction is such that heat is directly conducted into the bottom and sides or edges of the treads and, moreover, from members through which hot fluid, such as steam Also means is provided for preventing the escape of the material while being cured.

I claimv1. In a vulcanizer, the combination with a hollow work support, adapted for the passage of a hot fluid, of a pliable hollow mem- ,ber engaging the work and also adapted for the passage of a hot fluid. 2. In a vulcanizer, the combination with a hollow work support, adapted for the passage of a hot fluid, of an adjustable hollow member engaging the work and' also adapted for the passage of a hot fluid, and means for adjusting sa1d hollow member to engage the work.

3. In a vulcanizer, the combination with a hollow member having a surface adapted to be engaged by the work, of a hollow member upon sa1d surface, adjustable to engage the sides of the work, both of said hollow members adapted'for the assage of a hot fluid.

4. In a vulcanizer, or foot wear, the com- 'bmation with means adapted for the passage of a hot fluid for directly engaging the bottom of the tread of the foot wear, of means adapted for the passage of a hot fluid for directly engaging the edges of the tread of the foot-wear.

5. In a foot-wear vulcanizer, the combination with a hollow member having a surface against which the tread of the foot-wear rests, said member adapted for the passage of a hot fluid, of a second hollow member adjustably engageable with the edges of the tread of the foot-wear, said second member adapted for the passage of a hot fluid, and means upon said first-mentioned hollow member for adjusting said second hollow member.

6. In a vulcanizer, the combination with a hollow member having an inlet opening for steam near one end and an outlet opening at the opposite end, the lower wall of said member being inclined downwardly to said inlet opening and the upper wall being shaped to conform to the work mounted thereon, upwardly extending flanges upon said member, a flexible hollow member resting upon said first-mentioned member inside I said flanges, said flexible hollow member adapted to engage the sides of the work, adj ustment members en aging said flanges and adapted to engage sald flexible hollow member to clamp the same against the work, means for clamping the work upon the first mentioned hollow member, and connections extending from the outlet opening in said first-mentioned hollow member to said pli; able hollow member.

7. In a foot-wear vulcanizer, the combination with a hollow member having a surface against which the tread of the foot-wear,

' rests, said member adapted for the passage of a hot fluid, of a second hollow member adjustably engageable with the edges of the tread of the foot-wear, hollow connections between said, hollow members, means upon the first men'tioned hollow member for ad justing said second hollow member, and

means for preventing the flow of the tread justing said member into heat conducting contact with the sides of the work.

10. In a vulcanizer, the combination with a work support adapted to be heated, of a member movable transversely of said support, a rotatable member for clamping the work to said support mounted in said transversely movable member, and means permitting of the longitudinal sliding movement of said clamping member to advance the same into engagement with the work.

11. In a vulcanizer, the combination with a work support adapted to be heated, of a member located above said support, a connection between said support and member provided with a longitudinally extending slot, slidably. engaged by said member, a rotatable member for clamping the work to saidsupport and mounted in said first men tioned member, and means permitting of the longitudinal sliding movement of said clamping member to advance the same into engagement with the work.

12.- In a vulcanizer, the combination with a work support adapted tobe heated, of a clamping support provided with a long; tudinally extending slot, a member slidabsupported'in said slot and having lnternal threads, a second member having external threads engageable with internal threads and interrupted internal threads, and a stem engageable with the work for clamping the same to said work support, said stem having interrupted external threads slidable longitudinally between said first mentioned interrupted threads and adapted to engage and a lock with the same when said stem is rotated relative to said second member.

13. In a vulcanizer, the combination witha work support adapted to be heated, of a pliable member in heat conducting contact with said work support, and means upon in heat conducting contact with said work support and surrounding the work, and

means for adjusting said member inwardly upon said work and'against said work support.

- In testimony whereof I aflix m s1 ature.

7 WADE H. B OS vER. 

